Monday, 23 December 2013

a bit of November

 
 
 
playdough cookies made by Mckenna

 
 
handstitching a felt owl pillow 
 
 
carving pumpkins 

 
the end result! 
 
 
 
dressing up! 



 
 
 
Thankfully it didn't snow on Halloween, but it came soon after.  The snow is very dry, so it's hard to make a snowman, but this is what we came up with.  We had a little help from miscellaneous objects :) 


 
 
 
Emmy stayed out to make her own little snowman friend.  Her twin.
 
 
We've had a tonne of snow, but today, December 23, it is raining!

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

A peice of Quesnel, taken with me to Dawson Creek

We met several amazing people while we lived in Quesnel.  I really think my heart is still there, and wonder if moving to Dawson Creek was the right idea.  I know it was, as we see so much more of John now, then if we had stayed in Quesnel. 
 
It took us about 1 1/2 years to make true close friends. And the ones we did make, we hold very close to our hearts.
 
 
 
There's Dave and Terry:  We spent countless evenings at their house.  And every time we were there for dinner, she made sure she cooked up a moose/deer roast for us.  Birthdays were celebrated with a  special dinner and cake at their house. And we were so blessed to celebrate our birthdays with a dinner of our choice, cooked by Terry, with a beautifully decorated cake!
 
And Dave and Donna:  These were the couple that let us stay by them for about 9 months.  We cooked together, cleaned together, told stories together, made memories together.  Donna is an amazing, strong woman with a heart of gold.  Such a selfless person, always looking out for others, baking, cooking, babysitting or anything else that needed doing.  I don't know what we would have done if we hadn't had these people in our lives at this time.
 
Francis and Sara:  We didn't start getting together with these guys until the last 9 months or so in Quesnel.  But, what time we had together was treasured.  I got absolutely spoiled from Sara my last birthday in Quesnel.  I will always remember the extravagant meals she prepared when we came over for dinner.
 
 
 
 

This picture calendar is made by a friend from the Ladies Bible Study.  All these pictures are taken in Quesnel by Anika herself.  She is a very quiet and kind lady, but speaks in volumes through her creativity.  From magnets, to calendars, to bibs, etc.  She amazes me!
 
 
This book is from a lady from church.  We met them one of the first Sundays in Quesnel. Both Rick and Diane live their life for the youth of  Quesnel.  Diane knows me well, knows that I like to entertain.  So she gave me this book in June, and wrote in there something like this: Now you will think of me every Christmas!
 
 
I have never met a more giving and selfless person than Lynn.  We learned quickly that she doesn't say no. Lynn is also very creative when it comes to bead work.  She helped Emmy make me the blue necklace, and then gifted me with the pink necklace.  Both have matching earrings.  When we go back to Quesnel to visit, we know we are always welcome.  She has said to me "my house is yours!"  
 
And then there's April.  She was our next door neighbor.  We had lots of fun times scrapbooking together in her basement.  She had enough supplies to start a store, but had an amazing talent to scrapbook with many different styles.  She went on a cruise which involved a stop over in Mexico. So I asked her to get me this.  She wouldn't accept payment since I took care of her cats for her.  I'd consider that fair trade wouldn't you??!! 
 
And then there's this card.  I've had it in my Bible for almost 2 years now.  It has brought me comfort at the most surprising of times.  I will be flipping through my Bible and just "happen" to come across this card.  I read it, and it am comforted by these words. It was given to me by a lady that attended a Ladies Bible Study the first year we were in Quesnel.  She made these and handed them out to all of us.   
 
There are other people that made a difference in our lives.  Bob and Kathy who invited us over for lunch.. even though they were JUST having pancakes!
Pastor Norm and his wife Germaine, for inviting us to join them for Easter dinner since they knew we didn't have family. 
Kerri for putting up with my non-perfectionist cleaning style.
That is just those who I can think of at this late hour...11:30.  I would stick around and keep thinking but I know it is best for me to get to bed. 
 
See you around again soon :)

Norther Gems Part 2

Another northern gem is the view out my living room window when the sun is coming up.  I've seen some pretty amazing colors!
 
Red leafed trees are a rarity in Northern BC.  But from my window in the fall, I get a red and a yellow leafed tree and green colored tree all in one! 


Gem #3
We went with a friend and her daughter one day to Matthews Park.  It has an old school house on it, a large paying field, a small playground, a covered area, and fire pit!



 
The girls had lots of fun running around, playing school, and roasting hotdogs and marshmallows. 

 
Sitting in the grandstand! 


 
An awesome location for a family reunion.  Anyone game???

Tuesday, 5 November 2013

Northern Gems

So we have found a few awesome places to visit in the summer.  I was quite disappointed with how little there is to do in Dawson compared to Quesnel.  But the longer we live here, the more we find.  One of them is a little swimming hole in the Kiskatinaw River, by an old wooden bridge.

On the other side 

 
Can Sadie swim?  Yup!!  Did she like it??
 
Nope!! And she rolled and rolled... 
 
 
and rolled..
 
and rolled in the sand! 



making cookies out of clay. They would go into the water, grab handfuls, and bring them back to the sand where they made cookies and rolled them in sand.



 

 
the bridge 

 
Northern Gems #2 coming soon!


Sewall Farms

There is this cool place, about 30 minutes from our house called Sewall Farms.  One of my friends introduced me to it, and took us there one August day.  I really had no idea what we were up for, but I was not disappointed.  Here are some pictures to show why:


I can't remember this guy's name but he was freaky.  He walked right at us, and we didn't know if he was going to attack us or not.  Later on we found out that he's very friendly and loves people. So we tried to pet him, but as soon as we advanced toward him, he ran away. 

 
LOVE the bunnies! 
 
On a hayride. This dog just hopped on and acted like he was king of the wagon! 
 
These were the 3 cutest little pigs of the litter 
 
Hanging out with the dog...
 
and her friend Sophia
 
elk.. 

 bison
 
king of the herd.. wouldn't let anyone else near the grain pile! 


 
 
 
baby elk.. I think she was about 3 days old. 
 
 
 
And he was about 15 years old.. I'd be surprised if he was still alive. 




 with Sophia again

the crew of kids sitting on this cool swing 





 
So we got there as well as a few other groups of people.  we hung out with the turkey and peacocks, and held the baby bunnies.  Then we went around the property and saw all the different animals.  They have elk, caribou, fallow deer, mountain goat and sheep, donkeys, bison, pigs, steer, and a musk ox.  It was cool to see all of them.  After our picnic lunch, we visited their little shop where they sell candy, icecream, pictures that their family have painted, and also coats that she has made and embroidered as well as embroidered towels.  A VERY talented family, I'd say.  Too bad its so far away, because I'd definitely go again!